Drag reduction of asphaltenic crude oils

Abstract

A method of producing treated liquid hydrocarbons. The method begins by pressurizing a latex in a pressure vessel. This is followed by flowing the latex from the pressure vessel into a pipeline containing liquid hydrocarbons to produce treated liquid hydrocarbons. In this embodiment the latex comprises a drag reducing polymer.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method comprising:
 pressurizing a latex in a pressure vessel, and 
 flowing the latex from the pressure vessel into a pipeline containing liquid hydrocarbons to produce treated liquid hydrocarbons 
 wherein the latex comprises a drag reducing polymer, 
 wherein the liquid hydrocarbon has an asphaltene content of at least 3 weight percent and an API gravity of less than about 26° and 
 wherein the viscosity of the treated liquid hydrocarbon is not less than the viscosity of the liquid hydrocarbon prior to treatment with the drag reducing polymer. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the amount of drag reducing polymer in the treated liquid hydrocarbons ranges from about 0.1 to about 500 ppmw. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the drag reducing polymer has a solubility parameter within 4 MPa 1/2  of the solubility parameter of the liquid hydrocarbons. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the friction loss associated with the turbulent flow through the pipeline is reduced by suppressing the growth of turbulent eddies with the treated liquid hydrocarbons. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein there are no solids formed that are preventing the flow of latex into the liquid hydrocarbons. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the latex flows into the liquid hydrocarbons absent the use of a pump. 
     
     
       7. A method comprising:
 pressurizing a latex in a pressure vessel to produce pressurized latex, and 
 flowing the pressurized latex from the pressure vessel into a pipeline containing liquid hydrocarbons to produce treated liquid hydrocarbons 
 wherein the liquid hydrocarbons have an asphaltene content of at least 3 weight percent and/or an API gravity of less than about 26° and 
 wherein the viscosity of the liquid hydrocarbons is not greater than the viscosity of the treated liquid hydrocarbons and the friction loss associated with the turbulent flow through the pipeline is reduced by suppressing the growth of turbulent eddies with the treated liquid hydrocarbons and 
 wherein the pressurized drag reducing polymer is at a higher pressure than the liquid hydrocarbons and the latex comprises a drag reducing polymer.